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Over 7000 attend to the funeral of Peter Vasilievich Verigin2 November 1924
Brilliant, BC, Canada

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The Death of Peter 'Lordly' Verigin

Many theories have been forwarded as to the cause, or of who was responsible, but in the early morning of October 29th of 1924, Peter 'Lordly' Verigin (along with eight others) was killed by an explosion in a train car in which he was traveling. It was investigated at the time and found not to be an accidental explosion but deliberate. However, apparently no hard-core proof could be found as to who would have done it. Verigin had many foes. The Canadian government nervously watched the success of the commune of these peculiar people from the now revolutionized country of the birth of communism. Could this ?nuisance' help turn the Dominion into a communist state? The commune would be helpless without Verigin. With the aid of the BC Provincial Police and the railway company, could they carry out his execution?

Certainly he had considerable enemies within the community as well, for as much as most adored him, a few would be happier if he wasn't in control.. But to think that another Doukhobor, regardless of political view, would take another Doukhobor's life would be ludicrous.

Another theory was an European watchmaker named Metro Grishen could have planted a time-device upon instruction by the Bolsheviks. The theory was that they had Verigin killed in order to prevent a planned move back to Russia.

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Early Verigin tomb29 August 1925
Brilliant, BC, Canada

Credits:Photo by Thomas Gushel, a famed photographer of Doukhobor culture

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The Sons of Freedom had been thought to be the culprits as well - especially since Verigin's own home had been burned down shortly before he died (the Sons of Freedom of course were immediately suspected of this arson). But there was no substantial proof or connection.
In 1923 Verigin had purchased 800 acres in Eugene Oregon and some of the Brilliant Doukhobor families settled there. In Oregon, the Klu Klux Klan was holding rallies against communist foreigners. Verigin had investigated further purchases in Colorado where he thought the Doukhobors might live more peacefully, without persecution, than in BC. Did the Klu Klux Klan have Verigin killed? Again there was no proof.

Yet another theory was that Verigin's young assistant, Mary Strelioff and he were having an affair and the bomb was planted by a jealous lover. (It was unlikely that Ms. Strelioff had any 'lover' outside the Doukhobor community and again, the killing of one Doukhobor by another would be unthinkable).

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Closeup of the early Verigin Tomb29 August 1925
Brilliant, BC, Canada

Credits:Photo by Thomas Gushel, a famed photographer of Doukhobor culture

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Another theory was that his son, Peter P. Verigin, who was in Russia at the time, arranged his father's death so that he could take over the leadership (and the considerable wealth) of the CCUB. (In a visit to Canada in 1905 and then again in 1906, he was openly critical of both his father and of the community. Again, this theory pits Doukhobor against Doukhobor, but more improbable was the young Verigin's ability to arrange anything so extravagant as a murder from inside Russia in a distant country. One more theory was that Verigin was planning to attend a meeting the next day in Grand Forks and travel on to a further meeting in Spokane with lumber businessmen. Could a rival business partner not want this deal to close?

And finally there was a theory that John A. Mackie, a member of the BC legislature, who was sitting close to Verigin and was killed as well, was the actual target for some political motive, and not Verigin at all. At date of writing, this great Canadian mystery had not been solved.

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Over 7,000 attended Peter Vasilievich Verigin's funeral. The loyal followers (Community Doukhobors and even Independent Doukhobors from Saskatchewan), as well as dignitaries showed up to honour and pay respects to this great man who died at the age of 65 under the most mysterious of circumstances.

To the majority of the Doukhobors, this was a tragic event. At the following six week memorial, a new leader would have to be recognized. If Verigin left any instructions, none were known to exist as to who would become the next leader of the CCUB.

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Peter Petrovich VeriginCirca 1930
Unknown

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Peter Petrovich Verigin ('Chistiakov' - The Purger)

Following the traditional prayers, psalms and hymns at the six week memorial at Peter Lordly's tomb, on December 10th, 1924 the rightful heir to the leadership was recognized to be Peter Petrovich Verigin - the son Peter Lordly left behind as a baby in the Caucuses when his father became Lukeria Kalmykova's student over 4 decades ago. The problem was, Peter Petrovich was still in Russia and would have to come to Canada to assume control.

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Anastasia Gulobova, loyal companion and wife was to bear the brunt of Peter's death in the most profound way. Believing that she would rightfully be the next leader, she was in for a rude shock when the community asserted that the leadership must be hereditary. She campaigned for leadership nevertheless, but her aspirations wilted when only 500 of the 4,000 Doukhobors assembled at Peter Lordly's grave side voted for her at the traditional new leader election.

Anastasia Gulobova insisted on her ?rights to leadership' and the result was a forcible removal of her and her possessions to a new haven in Alberta, accompanied by other loyalsits and relatives of Peter Lordly.

The significance to Anastasia Gulobova was her banishment from the mainstream community under the leadership of Peter P. Verigin. The communal enterprise near Arrowwood, Alberta, lasted until 1945. At its peak, 165 members lived on 1260 acres under her leadership. She died in 1965.